Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Way back in March, I wrote this post about my very wonderful friends, Jay and Michelle Brock. We met them in the fall, and they proceeded to challenge and inspire me until they (very sadly) left to go back to Ontario to continue their life's adventures.

Michelle writes a blog called Hope For The Sold and fights to raise awareness about and abolish human trafficking and sexual exploitation and slavery.

I want to be true to who I am, and the life I lead on my blog. I want it to be both an expression and journal of the real, the genuine, the not-so-lovely moments and not feel the need to write about what I think people might want to read. But I also want to write about things that really matter. Things that break my heart. Things that encite righteous anger deep down inside. Things that make me feel helpless, because they are God-sized problems. I want to use this forum to do my part and raise awareness, even if only a handful of people read it. Sex and human trafficking is one of those things.

This post is a little lengthy, and pictureless (horrific, I know), but I would plead with you to read it to the end. Michelle is very articulate and I hope a little of what she shares, informs you, challenges you, brings you a revelation and nudges your heart a little.

What is an abolitionist?My definition of an abolitionist is someone who fights to end slavery, oppression, and injustice. Despite the abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade in the 1800s, modern day slavery and exploitation thrive in every corner of the globe still today.How was Hope For The Sold birthed?Five years ago my husband and I took a group of teens to Catalyst Leadership Conference in Atlanta, where Gary Haugen from International Justice Mission spoke on modern day slavery. Afterwards, out of the 10,000 people who were at the conference, we received 4 out of 100 tickets to pre-screen a movie called TRADE. The movie was about sex trafficking and I was speechless for 4 days.We started raising awareness in schools and churches, and in 2009 made a documentary about sex trafficking in Canada. This has been used by Canada Border Services to train their officers, author Benjamin Perrin in his Invisible Chains book tour across Canada, and Ms. Canada Tara Teng (who also happens to be a crazy passionate fellow-abolitionist!). I also write a blog about sex trafficking, with thousands of monthly readers. Clearly there is a growing movement to put an end to the abuse and exploitation of human beings!What is your heart for human trafficking and sexual exploitation?I was raised in Africa and witnessed poverty, AIDS, and injustice from a young age. But there is something specifically about sexual slavery that makes this issue more horrendous than anything else I could imagine as a woman. I believe that sex is the most intimate experience humans have, and to be raped for pay several times a day, with no hope of escape, is absolutely devastating.My hope is to prevent trafficking from happening through raising awareness and changing legislation, and to offer hope and dignity to those who are vulnerable and exploited.How do you keep going, day after day, battling such a huge monster?(a) Jesus Christ - who helps me remember that both the trafficked and their traffickers are enslaved. Though there absolutely needs to be punishment for the trafficking of people, traffickers themselves need to be set free from the pain and sin that entangles them. God also helps me to remember that justice is HIS cause, and I do not need to carry it alone. I cling to his promise that He will equip me for every good work.(b) My husband Jay - I need his encouragement DAILY. When I get discouraged or overwhelmed (happens often), he either gets in my face and tells me what's what, or listens to my rants and advises wisely. He keeps me dreaming, writing, and researching, and drives the vision of Hope for the Sold. In addition to this, Jay takes care of all back-end technical stuff with the blog, which I am severely challenged with!(c) Close friends and family - My mom reads all my blog posts and insists that I attend important anti-trafficking events. One time my favourite human rights researcher came to speak at a nearby city and I could not go because I had to work for 9 hours that day. My mom told me to cancel my shift, paid for the lost wages, and covered my gas to get to the event! She can really put her foot down. Close friends are also extremely supportive, with their prayers and financial support.(d) An amazing abolitionist community - Canada has some AMAZING abolitionists, and we are getting increasingly united and organized!What is "fair trade" and how is it linked to the human trafficking industry?Most of the products we use in North America are made by exploited labour. To keep their costs low, companies have their items made overseas, which lack adequate labour regulations and have poor human rights records.Sex trafficking is only one form of human trafficking. Labour trafficking is a massive problem as well. Many of the people that grow and harvest the cocoa used in our chocolate are either not paid enough or are enslaved and forced to work for no pay. Some are children, who have never even tasted chocolate. Clothing manufacturing works the same way. Most factories have terrible work environments. Many cannot leave even if they wanted to, because they have been sold and are someone's 'property.'Fair Trade products guarantee that the workers that made the product you are buying were not exploited in the process and are being paid a fair wage. I have stopped buying chocolate that is not fair trade, which is frustrating at times, but so worth it! I have also discovered the joy of consignment and used clothing stores, like Plato's Closet, which I am seeing more of lately. You can learn more about my thoughts on fair trade here.

It's all interconnected. The global economy undermines the ability of many in impoverished countries to rise up and make a real life for themselves. Increased vulnerability disproportionately affects women, many of who are trafficked for sex. We are all part of this chain based on what we purchase. The key is not to get overwhelmed, but to start with one changed action and see where it goes from there. I promise, it gets addictive!

What are some ways that you fight trafficking and exploitation and support fair treatment for overseas workers in daily life?I only buy fair trade chocolate- my favourite is Coco Camino 70% dark...delicious! Jay only buys used clothes, except socks and underwear :)In general, we try to avoid large for-profit corporations, and if it's a coffeeshop, those who aren't full fair trade... where we currently live, we'd rather go to Planet Bean or The Red Brick Cafe instead of Starbucks.We also have a running boycott on Walmart. Their string of human rights abuses is huge, and their size allows them to continually slash prices (and quality) in the "race to the bottom".As a rule of thumb, if a company is fair-trade, they'll let you know.Local is better because local dollars stay in the the local community.It all comes back to relationships - to suppliers, to store owners, to customers, and to the earth. Everything's connected, and we need to foster communities that are PEOPLE-first, not profit-motivated. When we do this, quality goes up, inflation goes down, and future generations benefit.

Any parting thoughts you'd like to make?The key is to not get overwhelmed, but to start doing just ONE thing that makes a difference. For example, you can start by signing ONE petition at http://humantrafficking.change.org/. It actually takes just one minute. Or you can buy ONE item at http://freesetglobal.com/ to help support exploited women as they make fair trade products. Or you can try ONE fair trade Cocoa Camino chocolate product here (free shipping in Canada!) You could also boycott ONE kind of non fair-trade chocolate (ie. Kit Kat bar).So the key thing to remember is ONE. Start with one thing, one change, one action, and soon it will not seem as overwhelming as it is empowering!

I hope you were educated. I hope you were inspired. I hope you were encouraged. I hope you can find ONE small way to do your part!

:: at the park :::: spinning, spinning :::: more spinning at the park :::: swinging away (Denay's good buddy Chloe) :::: rockin' mamma's shaded :::: it's all fun and games until someone gets wet (which they both did, and they both cried) :::: future superstar :::: taking pictures of each other :::: she loves the piano :::: P* playing with her pal Gracie ::

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Denay has a little Fisher Price digital camera that her Uncle Ryan bought her for Christmas.....it's been collecting images taken by her eye for months. Last week I uploaded them, and here is life, from the perspective of my three-year-old.....

Monday, June 27, 2011

Trevor and Darryl have been friends for years. He was the Best Man at our wedding, one of the first that got a phone call when our children were born, we flew out to Ontario (when I was just a few weeks pregnant with Denay) for their wedding in November of 2007.

They live out of province and we are rarely able to time out visits to the "commonland" and sneak in a visit.

Well, this weekend we got spoiled and had the pleasure of having this fabulous family over at our house. The visit lasted about four hours total, but what a time we had! Denay and Isabella bounced (and fell off of) rubber balls, we laughed, ate an entire 40 pack of Timbits ans shared lots of hilarious child and parent related anecdotes.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

A little while back, I posted about the major switch we made from two bedrooms, to a bedroom and a playroom for the girls. To answer the most common question I've been asked since then, things are going so very, very well. We have always played music for the girls while they sleep, so they are very used to not having quiet. So now, when one of them wakes up crying, we've found the other isn't usually disturbed.....and, never having a sister, I'm so enjoying watching them share a room together!

I had Paisley's name photographs from Alphabet Photography that I'd taken out of the frames in the (now) playroom and replaced them with black and white photos of the girls together. So I was left with the letters and knew just what I wanted to do with them.

Last week I had a few evening hours to myself, and while watching the five part Pride and Prejudice mini-series, I hauled out my scrapbooking paper, hot glue gun and ribbon, and this is what I came up with.....{I went with a purple pattern theme, cause Paisley is my purple blankie girl}

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

BUT, men be cautioned(if there are actually any men that grace my blog with their presence) that this post is all about something you probably don't want to know about: feminine hygiene. So, consider yourselves rightfully warned.

A few months ago, a girlfriend of mine (whom I mentioned inthis post) posted a link on Facebook. I clicked on it and my immediate reaction was "Ewwww, gross". It was for a product called LunaPads, a washable and reusable cotton menstrual pad. I have never been a pad girl and have always disliked the idea of using them during my period. But after reading a little about them, I was so impressed with the idea and innovation and their incredible environmental friendliness. It was right up the road we've been taking trying to reduce our impact and avoid products that are less sustainable. But this particular product is not something I would use. As I continued to browse, I found a tab near the top that said "The DivaCup". Curious me clicked on it and was instantlyintriuged. The DivaCup is a reusable, non-absorbantmenstral cup that eliminates the need for tampons and pads by collecting the menstral flow. It's then removed, the contents emptied, washed and reinserted.

Again, my first reaction was a little "Ewww", but then I got to thinking about when I first started using tampons and it wasn't much different.

I put it off and forgot about it but then I finished breastfeeding, and certain things resumed and it wasn't long before I was wishing I was pregnant again. Within a day, I had ran out to the local organic market and picked myself up one.

So here's my review.

I love the idea of this! I love that I no longer need to purchse paper products or, when they are used, throw them away to be sent to a landfill. I love that it is made in Canada and is dye, chlorine, coloring and additive free. Their website draws a comparison between the switch many people have made from plastic bags to canvas bags, to the switch from tampons to the DivaCup. I've now gone through three cycles using the DivaCup and I'll be very honest I had a rough go with it. I was prepared that it was going to be a learning curve, but it took using it for two cycles to finally use it without it leaking or being uncomfortable. But now that I've figured it out, I LOVE it!

I would totally encourage you to check out their website. It was a push to figure it out but now that I'm learned, I will never go back! Because it's not absorbant it's not disrupting your natural moisture, there are no plastics or chemicals that are near or inside you body.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

One where you not only enjoy the eating of meal together, but the making of it as well!

Last week we had friends of ours over for a long-overdue get together and Alana showed me how to make Rouladen (pronounced Roo-la-den). I had never heard of it but when I did it was all good and yummy!

One or two (if you're really hungry) will be plenty for each person you are feeding. This tutorial is amount and measurement-less so you'll have to do a little guess and eyeball work or Google a recipe.

Alana finely diced almost an entire onion......

And I chopped an entire package of bacon (I never eat bacon.....YUM)Then you will need pieces of round or flank steak (based on how many people you are feeding) pounded about 1/4 inch think.We covered the counter to minimize the mess. Roll the steaks out on the counter and season with salt, paprika, pepper and garlic salt. Just sprinkle it on. Then flip them over and season the other side.Drizzle mustard..........then sprinkle the onion and bacon.THEN! Oh, then. Take a big ol' dill pickle, lay it at one end and start rolling!

Be sure so smile as you roll!Lay them in a dish, cover with foil and bake at 350 for about 30-40 minutes. Cook it based on how you like your steak done. Alana poured some water in and made some gravy after as well. I know, it just keeps getting better and better!

Yum, yummy, yum!

Then all that's left is to enjoy. And we sure did. Even the next night for leftovers, and I don't like leftovers. On my husband's scale, it was a definite "make again".

I am a farm girl by birth, a small town girl by choice and a lover of all things loveable - my Heavenly Father, my amazing husband, a super cute four-year-old girl and her unchable two-year-old sister, reading, blogging and scrapbooking, Frank Sinatra and Country music, a good comfy hoodie, and all things summertime.
I am a SAHM and Domestic Engineer. This, is my life.